Block-signal system.



W. B POTTER. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

' APPLIOATION FILED an. 22, 101.0

1,063,591. Patented June 3, 1913.

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f :R h I 1-1 N n) Q v V ll 19% 4 b Witnesses: Inventor: KMZT M Wiiliam 12 Potter. Z54; .1a 0%;

His .flttorngg.

s'rA'r-s :EATENT A oFFIoE.

WILLIQ'M B. POTTER, F SGHENEC'I'ADY, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IlrIEN'IS, Th3 THE UNION SWITCH ANI) SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ZPENN- SYLVANIA. v

BLOCK-'QIGNAL SYSTEM.

and usefuL Improvements in Block-Signal 'Systeniaof which thefollowing is a specification.

i y invention relates to" block signal sys- .tenis for railways, and its object is to pro .yideanovel f rm of track circuit in which partjiailarly reliable relay operation is ohtarned;

My invention consists in a novel arrangei'ncnt oi theftrack circuit connections. The

v rails of adjacent blocks are insulated from hast, that more p each other in the usual manner by insulated joints, but the track relays which are polarized are connected across the msulated oints instead of between therails, as in the orditrack relay for that block has a reverse torque, as will be hereinafter explained, and, second, the breaking down of insulated joints cannot produce. a false clearindication, as is possible with the ordinary track circuit. I

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in whichliigure 1 shows diagrainimitically a block signal 5 SiQlil having track circuits arran ed in. accon. ance with my iHVQlltlOll,flliCl l ig. 9. shows a modifical ion of the same.

In Fig; l, A and A represent the rails of adjacent blocks which are sepa 'ated from each other by insulated joints or in the usual manner. ll anc B represent track batteries, or otluu: sources of current, which, in this figure, instead of being connected across the rails in the usual manner, are connected across insulated joints. 0 and C are track r le. the windings of which are also con- HM. across insulated jo nts instead of lee-- tucen the rails. These relays are polarized, as is indicated in the conventional manner employed in the railway signaling art. D, l) and D represent resistances cross conuccling diagoiuilly opposite rails of adja- Specification of Letters fatent.

from the battery B relay from its own battery B.

Patented June 3,1 i3,

Application filed January 22, 1916. Serial No. 539,4'20. 1

cent blocks. E and E represent the signals for the blocks, and F, F the batteries for operating the signal mechanisms. Each track circuit includes a trackbattery, the rails, a relay winding and two resistances, each resistance being common to two adjacent track circuits. Thus, the current from battery B flows through resistance D, up

per rail A, relay C, resistance D, and lower rail A back to the battery. The current from battery B flows through lower rail A, resistance D, relay C, upper rail A, y

and resistance 1) back to the battery. Thus, the currents from both batteries flow through resistance l) and it will be noted. that the batteries are so connected that the current from both batteries flows through. the resistance in the same direction; As long as the blocks are unoccupied the re lays aref energized in the ordinary manner through" the track circuits just traced. "il h'en a train enters a block, as is indicated at ll in block A, the relay C is cut oil but is connected through the wheels and axles of the car in shunt to the resistance D, so that a portion of the current from battery B now flows through relay C. By noting the relative polarities of the batteries B and B it Will be seen that the current thus supplied to relay 0' from battery 18 is in the opposite direction to that normally supplied to this A reverse torqueds, therefore, produced in the relay which makes the operatiou'of the relay very positive. Furthermore, no false clear indications can arise from broken down joints, since the breaking down of a joint simply short-circuits either the relay Winding or the battery which is connected around it. Fig. 2 shows the application of my inven- ;tion to track-circuits in which the batteries are placed at the centers of the blocks as is sometimes done when the blocks are long. in this tiqure the batteries B "and B are conncctwl across the rails in the usual manner, while two track relays per block are provided one at each end of the block. Thus, the block A has two relays C and C both controlling the signal E, and the block A has two'relays (l and C both controlling signal E. As in Fig.1, the track batteries a '0 so connected that the currents from them flow in the same direction through the rosistance D between the blocks.

2 I I 'opposltc to normal so that it tends to QOSb tivel hold this l'QlZlV ooen. Similerl Y when a a a train occupies the exit eno othlock A it places relay G in parallel with resistance D so that this relayv then receives current from the battery next 111 advance and this current is in the direction opposite to normal so that it tends to positively hold this relay open. In the arrangement of this figure the breaking down of an insulated joint simply short-circuits the relay connected around the joint.

ll do not desire to limit myself to the per ticuler connections and arrangement of parts shown. and described, and aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are Within the scope oi IIlYiYlVQDtlOIl.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1, In a block signal system, in combinetion; with a railway having the rails of adjacent bloc-ks separated by insulated joints, resistances between adjacent blocks each connecting :1 mil of one block with the diagonally opposite rail of an adjacent block, sources of current for the track circuits,

polarized track relays each llllYll'lg a wind in connected around one of said insulated joints, and signals controlled by said role;

2. In a block signal n in combiinttion with a railway having the mile of tilljecent blocks separated by insulated joints, sources of current connected to the mils, polarized track relays each having :1. Wind ing connected around one of said insulated joints, and resistances connecting dingoruilly opposite rails of adjacent blocks and town ing with the sources, rail and relay wh rl-- ings closed truck circuits, said resistances being common to adjacent track circuits, and signals controlled by said relays.

3. In a block signal system, in combination with a railway having the rails of zidjacent blocks separated by insulated joints, sources of current connected, across the mile n the centers of the blocks, resistances connecting diagonally opposite mils of adjacent blocks, polarized relays, one at each end of each block connected across one of said insulated joints, and signals controlled by said relays.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of January, 19] O.

li 'lljlilillll ll. POTTER.

\Vilnossee BENJAMIN .B. HULL, HELEN Onronn.

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